US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday (January 14th) accused the Houthis (Ansarallah) of failing to comply with a ceasefire agreement for the city of al-Hodeidah reached at UN-sponsored talks in Sweden, AFP reported.
"The work that was done in Sweden on Yemen was good, but both sides (need) to honour those commitments," Pompeo said in Riyadh following talks with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
"Today, the Iranian-backed Houthis have chosen not to do that."
The US embassy in Riyadh said Monday that Pompeo and Prince Mohammed agreed on the need for continued de-escalation and adherence to the Sweden agreements, especially the ceasefire in the Red Sea port city of al-Hodeidah.
"A comprehensive political solution is the only way to end the conflict," the embassy said.
The Houthis on Sunday boycotted a meeting chaired by the head of a UN-led ceasefire monitoring team in al-Hodeidah, accusing him of pursuing "other agendas".
Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert is leading a joint committee, which includes both government and Houthi representatives, tasked with overseeing a truce in the Red Sea port city and the withdrawal of both parties.
The UN has said the al-Hodeidah truce has largely held since it came into force on December 18th, but there have been delays in the agreed pullback of forces.
The Houthis control most of al-Hodeidah, while government forces are deployed on its southern and eastern outskirts.
